My first attempt at Hell's Gate

[ColoradoMike]

Nice work!!

The top 25% of the exit is the bugger and where most people panic and have issues. At that point it's so much less about equipment, and so much more about driver skill and keeping calm.

Thanks. Yeah, my line at the top was sub-optimal and I wish I would have done it cleaner, but I stayed calm and steady on the throttle, and corrected. My heart was POUNDING after I decided I was going to do it, as I walked back to my Jeep, as I started into the entrance. But once I was in it, I was calm.

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[ColoradoMike]

You just got me VERY excited about my Rubi X. Came with 33"'s (I didn't do the build, lucked into after the builder bailed), but next ones will be 35"s

Nice. I hope you enjoy it. Incidentally, this particular obstacle is sketchier in a 2-door than a 4-door.

 

[chevymitchell]

The world does not need another Hell's Gate video; there are many. But, this was MY first attempt at the Gate, so I made a movie. Hey, nobody says you have to watch it! :D
P.S.: the first person to tell me not to stand up in the saddle will be summarily ignored!

This is just stupid. Congrats on your survival.

 

[ColoradoMike]

This is just stupid. Congrats on your survival.

Yeah, that video and ones like it are why I passed on HG six times before doing it. But two things:
1. That Jeep was a 2-door, and catastrophic backflips on this obstacle are much more likely in a 2-door than my 4-door. And
2. I imagine there are at least 1,000 ascents of Hell's Gate per year, and if you scour the interwebs, you can't find that many videos of true disaster like the one you found. There are a few. So I imagine that, by percentage, the odds of a true catastrophe like that are quite low. Combined with my belief that I am reasonably skilled, I figured that a disaster was a possibility but highly unlikely.
You can rest assured that I don't do anything like this without genuinely considering the consequences and possible outcomes, and making peace with it.
You hear that yell of triumph at the end? That is more valuable to me than I can tell you. That is the sound of my soul on fire in a way that I very much need. When I die, memories of days like this will be my most prized possessions.

 

[Ratbert]

Right near the start. You do the big fin out of the parking lot, then there's the split where you can go high right or low left through the rocks, then you climb up that ledge and swing left and climb up onto a bench. Up there, there are some signs and such; it looks like an overlook. But that's where the dino tracks are. Like .4ish miles from the trailhead, I think.

Wow, I'm not sure how I've missed that. It looks like someone stole the originals and lost them??

 

[ColoradoMike]

Wow, I'm not sure how I've missed that. It looks like someone stole the originals and lost them??

Oh no, really?! I'm a little ashamed to say, but I have never stopped there to look. It's so early in the trail that I'm just eager to get after it. I just know that's where they are (or were?)

 

[Ratbert]

Oh no, really?! I'm a little ashamed to say, but I have never stopped there to look. It's so early in the trail that I'm just eager to get after it. I just know that's where they are (or were?)

Yep. Basic details here: https://www.trailsoffroad.com/trails/549-hells-revenge#waypoint-6

I've started using TOR for just about every run. Found the pictographs at Elephant Hill that we definitely would have missed without TOR.

 

[aeonixx1001]

The world does not need another Hell's Gate video; there are many. But, this was MY first attempt at the Gate, so I made a movie. Hey, nobody says you have to watch it! :D
P.S.: the first person to tell me not to stand up in the saddle will be summarily ignored!

Great Job! Good Video, thanks I think I peed a little.

 

[COJeeper]

The world does not need another Hell's Gate video; there are many. But, this was MY first attempt at the Gate, so I made a movie. Hey, nobody says you have to watch it! :D
P.S.: the first person to tell me not to stand up in the saddle will be summarily ignored!

IDENTITY THEIF!!!!!!!!! I live in Colorado and my name is Mike!!! ? I remember my first time on Hells Gate, now on to the movie!!!

It's like TSO goes Jeeping! I did a slight wheel lift on my first time in the same area, common for folks on their first run or spotters not well known. I was lucky, I had a local spot me. I agree, my first time, I thought down was worse than up! Now it's a horse a piece.

 

[COJeeper]

You can ignore me all you want, but this is just plain dumb. No seatbelt on an obstacle that is known to roll people very badly is not something you should post. Plus you are holding onto your roof rack support, a likely spot to be crushed when you roll.

I mean, it's his life though, he wasn't endangering anyone else. If he wants to risk death, personal choice. The world is WAY overpopulated anyway.... we need a new plague.

Now, if he had kids on the roof rack dancing, then I'd have a different opinion.

 

[ColoradoMike]

Great Job! Good Video, thanks I think I peed a little.

It's pucker-worthy.

 

[markw365]

You bought the Rubi for a reason. You only live once.

I was out there last month, the NAXJA (XJ) guys I was with thought I was crazy for doing some of the stuff in the XR. The XR is stock with artec belly skid and front steel bumper/skid. I was taking the hard lines on stuff they would take the bypass on. Lots of fun, I'm still blown away at how well the XR rubicon works compared to the XJ.

 

[markw365]

The amazing one was the xtreme 4x4 tours they were doing out there. 89 suburban 4x4 with 2 rows of 3 and a passenger. Dude was doing hells gate, the hot tubs, escalator, all with passenger. He went down hells gate then back up, did it the normal way. He knows the trail and the lines.

 

[Soggybottomboy]

I thought the video was amazing! I've never done anything remotely close to that. I was wondering though, do you think a front camera would've been useful in that situation? Would it have allowed you to remain seated? Just wondering. The only situation I get to use mine is scoping ruts in the sand on the beach. ?

SBB

 

[Ratbert]

I thought the video was amazing! I've never done anything remotely close to that. I was wondering though, do you think a front camera would've been useful in that situation? Would it have allowed you to remain seated? Just wondering. The only situation I get to use mine is scoping ruts in the sand on the beach. ?

SBB

Most likely. There are several spots on Hell's Revenge that are scary AF without a trail cam, but you can do just about everything without a spotter or having to pre-check it yourself if you have one.

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